they should just make one cable for 1m, one for 2m, one for 3m, and so on. the consumer won't know that the 3m has, apparently, thicker wires. so monster can really skimp and give the thin wires for the standard hdmi (btw, i think monster invented that term, all i'm aware of is HDMI 1.3 spec). anyways, they'll give that the old 1500% markup, then they can markup the 2m at 1200%, the 3m at 1000%, etc.

you want to educate consumers? don't bother. take away their knowledge. give them one size fits all. it looks like monster just said the lowest end 2m cable works for the highest end application. maybe there's some proof that "it's all 0s and 1s, it either works or it doesn't" [it is true after all]. Reply

The article states the Monster FS Perfectview 450 "will be shipping by the end of September at $699, which is quite pricey given the screen sizes we're talking about here." Monster products are overpriced/a waste of money, IMO, but the accompanying slide pretty clearly states a price of $349.95. Is that wholesale or something? Reply

By focusing on laptops you have the advanatage that it becomes more likely users will look their laptop up to their TV... After being wowed by the quality of HD off their laptop, they might start considering also investing in a stand alone player so they can forgo the inconvinience of having to mess around with wires and cables all the time just to watch HD movie content. Reply

The argument is valid. The marketing of adult content (previously only available on film) for home viewing on the VHS standard is considered one of the contributors to the victory of VHS over Beta. Recording time length and cheaper players also had an impact. Reply

Perhaps it's just me but I think the confidence sony is showing right now is the first step in their down fall... HD is still very much an up and coming market, just getting ready to make it down to regular consumers (i.e. to the point that single guys like me who aren't rich are finally getting HD-TVs, families are next). Here is where price/quality really matters, and that is where HD-DVD is delivering compared to blueray. Sony is completely off their rocker to think they've any where near won. Reply

HD DVD won CEDIA with the announcement that HD DVD will be pushed by Sunday Night Football. Monster is right about consumer ignorance (but wrong about their overpriced cables). Most consumers still have little clue about HD DVD and Blu-Ray. A lot of people watch football. And it comes at a time when a sub $200 HD DVD will be entering the market. Blu-Ray better counter, or else Blu-Ray will become What?-Ray. Reply

Oh, and one more thing. Neither side has won the MAJORITY of average consumers. Blu-Ray, according to Sony, has won the enthusiasts. But those are the vast vast minority. The winner of this format war is the one that gets the majority. Reply

Blueray has won the segment of customers that think higher price tag some how means better HD quality from your DVD player... It won't take the average consumer long to figure out that HD-DVD gives you the same quality at a much lower price point... Reply

I feel sad for those that buy into the monster cable marketing. I been getting my cables from monoprice lately. Nice well made cables for cheap. Wish I told that to my neighbor before he drop money on it. Oh well next time :) Reply

yeah i got a 50' dvi -> hdmi cable from mono price. works great. its just massive. makes my man hood feel bad at times. Monster does have a point. the original spec for hdmi was a <5gbs link. then the spec was increased to 120hz, 24b color, then 1440P resolution. all in all the bandwidth requirement was increased to >12gps. Then they got spart. the increased the spec, but never upgraded the spec on the cable. So, current hdmi cables are fine for current stuff like PCs, HD stuff and game consoles. anything higher that that (1440P) I will worry about it when i can buy a $2000 1440P TV, receiver, player, and content.

About the STR-5300ES, how is that any better than the Onkyo 805 fpr $1000 (has all the same features except bravia link) and if you want the Silicon Optics HCV blah 10bit REON up scaler, the onkyo 875 sells for $1800 (msrp). oh and onkyos 905 has burr brown oamps.....

Oh well Congrats to Sony bringing more competition into the high end gear!!!!!!!! Reply

I'm so sad for Monster that consumers don't want to pay a 1000% price markup on their cables. I bought a $5 DVI-HDMI cable about 6 feet long and it delivers a brilliant image to my sony 1080p TV. Reply

Monster Cable's business model depends on the ignorance of consumers and peoples' blind attraction to shiny packaging and a slick sales pitch. It's common knowledge among the enthusiasts and educated consumers that Monster is the cable world's equivalent of Bose. Slick marketing, massive markup, inferior product. Reply

Except Bose speakers (at least their real surround speakers) actually do sound great, and are high quality. Basically, you really do get something out of spending more on your speakers vs. cheaping out (like I did). If you cheap out you can get decent, but not amazing sound, if you spend extra cash, you get amazing... With monster, you really don't get anything at all.

(qualifier, yes you need a decent receiver to go along with your shiny bose speakers for things to work out well). Reply

quote:Monster Cable's business model depends on the ignorance of consumers and peoples' blind attraction to shiny packaging and a slick sales pitch. It's common knowledge among the enthusiasts and educated consumers that Monster is the cable world's equivalent of Bose. Slick marketing, massive markup, inferior product.

Monster is also dependent on making sure big box stores like Best Buy only sell their brand of cables and no other, so that people who absolutely gotta have their new home theater working today (without travelling around to buy things) will spend the big bucks as opposed to being patient, going somewhere else or mail-ordering them, and saving the cash.

Best Buy (and some others) have learned that it nets them huge profits too. Same with computer cables (Geek Squad and Dynex). $33 for a USB cable I can pay $10 for anywhere else? Highway robbery --and enough to stop me from buying other items at their store as well. Reply